New images reveal major changes for historic Derby Engineers Club building

An historic but derelict building near Derby city centre is set for a major transformation after plans were given the go-ahead to build 32 new apartments on a busy street.

The former Derby Engineers Club building in Osmaston Road is set for big change.

Applicant Derby and Co Developments will partly demolish the rear of the building which was destroyed by fire before renovating the whole venue into eight new apartments.

In addition, the developer also will build three new three-storey apartment blocks behind the Engineers Club building comprising eight new homes each. This will make for 32 apartments in total.

The building is locally listed and described as a two-storey former villa built in 1824 and was once a favourite haunt for engineers and their families. But in recent years the building has been left empty and boarded up, leaving it susceptible to damage.

More than two years ago firefighters were called to a fire at the building. The blaze was so severe that it damaged two rooms.

Derby City Council planning officers have given the green light for work to go ahead. They said that the public benefits of the proposal outweighed any potential harm to the building.

A decision notice by the council says: “The proposed redevelopment of this former community/leisure use for residential purposes is acceptable in principle. This is a sustainable brownfield location, close to the city centre and with good public transport links.

“The proposal would result in the acceptable re-use of a vacant, locally listed building. The highway authority is satisfied that the proposals will not have a significant impact upon the adjacent highway network.

“The proposed layout, design and appearance are considered satisfactory. Any harm to the locally listed building must be weighed against the public benefits of removing the unsightly rear extensions, providing more housing and bringing the vacant building back into use.

The Derby Engineers Club was founded more than 100 years ago, in 1919, by a group of six engineers who decided to form their own social club. The group used to meet at a house in London Road, which has since been demolished.

At the time, it was an organisation strictly for engineers but, in the late 1920s, it became a general social club. It had affiliations to working men’s clubs and, to cope with the increase in membership, it moved to Osmaston Road in 1930.

The premises became popular and the club had to build extensions to accommodate the extra members. However, in 2013, the club went into receivership and closed for good in June 2013.